MAKING AND CHUSING RODS, &C. 19 



with sallad or linseed oil ; if they are bored, pour 

 in either of the oils, and let them soak therewith 

 for twenty- four hours, then pour it out again, and 

 it will preserve them from the least injury. In 

 general the length of the rod is to be determined 

 by the breadth of the river you angle in ; but a 

 long rod is always of more use than one too short, 

 provided it is truly made : one of about five yards 

 and a half long you will experimentally find to 

 be quite sufficient. When you have taken your 

 stocks and tops from the place that you put them 

 in for seasoning (where they must have remained 

 sixteen months at least), match them together in 

 just proportion, and let the rod consist of five or 

 six pieces; if you ferrule it, observe that they fit 

 with the greatest nicety, and in such a manner as 

 when put all together they may not wriggle in 

 the least, but be in proportion and strength as if 

 the whole rod were but one piece. If you bind 

 them together, it must be with thread strongly 

 waxed, having first cut the pieces with a slope or 

 slant that they may join each other with the 

 greatest exactness, and then spread a thin layer 

 of shoemaker's wax over the slants, or a glue 

 which 1 have set clown in the arcana for the -an- 

 gler's use : afterwards you must cut about six 

 inches off the top of the rod, and in its place whip 

 on a smooth, round, and taper piece of whalebone, 

 and at the top of that a strong loop of horse-hair : 

 then the whole will be completed, and thus made 

 will always ply with a true bent 10 the hand. 

 Your fly-rods may be made in the same manner ; 

 but note, must be much more pliant than the 

 others, and more taper from stock to top. It is 

 of service to them to lay by some time before you 

 use therrio 



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